NFL Power Rankings Week 7

Connor Hazelton

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As we near the halfway point in the NFL season (which sucks for all football fans that it goes by that quickly), we are starting to get to the point at which the weekly power rankings may not change too much from week to week, because we are starting to get a better idea of which teams are contenders and which teams are pretenders. Teams such as the Bears, Browns, Colts, and 49ers are ready to pack it up for the season and focus on the NFL Draft, while others like the Patriots, Vikings, Cowboys (gross), and Seahawks, among others, are focused on winning a Super Bowl. Now without further ado, here is this week’s power ranking for the top ten teams in the NFL. For the record, although they didn’t make the top ten this week, don’t sleep on my New York Giants coming off a big win against the Ravens to possibly save their season. Don’t let Eli get hot!

1. Minnesota Vikings

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The only undefeated team remaining in the league gets the top spot this week. Coming off their bye week, Minnesota, led by their unbelievable defense, heads to the City of Brotherly Love, as they look to stay unbeaten versus an Eagles team that is dropped their last two. Quarterback Sam “Sammy Sleeves” Bradford has done an outstanding job filling in for the injured Teddy Bridgewater, and has yet to throw an interception this season. This will be a tough test for the Vikings playing in a hostile environment, but I expect them to come away with a victory, and more importantly, the top ranking in next week’s power rankings.

2. New England Patriots

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Listen, by no means am I a Patriots fan, but I think that Deflategate was a bunch of nonsense, and the worst thing commissioner Roger Goodell could have done was drag it out and end up suspending quarterback Tom Brady, because it now just pissed him and the rest of the team off and they’re going to continue to beat up on teams like they’ve done for the past 15 years. So congrats Goodell, we get to see New England in another AFC Championship Game at the very minimum. Although Brady is back and playing at a high level, I’d like to point out that he’s no longer the best looking quarterback in the league anymore, let alone his own team. Shout out to you Jimmy Garoppolo for being the handsome devil you are.

3. Dallas Cowboys

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Screw the Cowboys, screw Dak Prescott and Zeke Elliot for giving me and Giant fans everywhere nightmares for the next ten plus years, screw their offensive line that’s the best in football, screw their defense that isn’t as bad as I wanted it to be, and screw Cole Beasley just because. That’s all I have to say about the Cowboys, who are really good. Just to prove I’m a somewhat objective sports writer, I picked the Cowboys last week over the Packers.

4. Seattle Seahawks

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After a lackluster start in their first two games, Seattle has found their rhythm on both offense and defense, and now look like one of the best teams in the NFL. Christine Michael has done a nice job replacing running back Marshawn Lynch, who retired during the offseason, and quarterback Russell Wilson seems to be just fine after a knee injury scare in their first game against Miami. Their defense seems to have gotten their swagger back, and I think that this team can play with the best of them.

5. Atlanta Falcons

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Yeah, I know they lost, but the Falcons went up to Seattle and gave the Seahawks all they could handle, and that was after they had arguably the most impressive win so far this season, beating the Broncos in Denver the week prior. Although their defense is still a little spotty, Julio Jones continues to be one of the best players in the league week in and week out, and should have gotten a call his way at the end of the game against Seattle. Matt Ryan has played like a top five quarterback this season, and I fully expect him to keep up his elevated level of play for the rest of the season.

6. Denver Broncos

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The defending champs have lost two straight games with an offense that seems to have lost their way, but they still have arguably the best defense in the NFL. Quarterback Trevor Siemian looked shaky in his return last week to the Chargers, but I think that they should get back on track against the Houston Texans Monday Night.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers

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The Steelers have dealt with injuries throughout the past few seasons, and Sunday the one player who they couldn’t afford to get injured got injured. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger tore his meniscus in a loss to the Dolphins, and will be sidelined for a period of time that has yet to be determined. Pittsburgh has one of the most explosive offenses in the league to help cover up what is a shaky defense for them, but Big Ben is the guy who makes their offense go, and with him being out, it does not look good for the Steel City.

8. Oakland Raiders

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The Rrrrrrrraaaaiddderrrssss (Chris Berman voice)… lost last week, but that doesn’t mean they still haven’t been one of the best teams in the league up to this point so far. Their defense hasn’t been great, but quarterback Derek Carr been outstanding this year, and has helped lead a young team to first place in a tough AFC West. Head Coach Jack Del Rio has taken some early gambles with his play calls this year, most of which have paid off, and I look for him to continue to make the right calls for the rest of the season.

9. Green Bay Packers

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Hey, Aaron Rodgers: Figure it out dude. You’re supposed to be the best quarterback in the league, and you let a rookie come into Lambeau and outplay you as your team got crushed. Side note, Rodgers is my fantasy quarterback and he picked a really bad time to have his worst season. I still think that the Packers will eventually get back on track and make the playoffs, but their receivers need to start getting open for Rodgers, and their secondary needs to start making more plays.

10. Buffalo Bills

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Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. I probably could have put the Redskins in this spot but I hate the Redskins and their team name is just downright offensive. After firing their offensive coordinator, the Bills have yet to lose a game, including going into Foxboro and shutting out the Patriots. Do I think this will last? I don’t know, probably not, but for now the Bills make my top ten ranking.